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The Hardball Briefing On MSNBC
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Big news day folks...The White House announced this morning that President Bush will
hold a live 8 pm et press conference in the East Room tonight...Reuters informs us
that this is only the second such solo event in that august room since the President
took office...Furthermore, the AP notes that this is his eighth solo presser with
Q&A...MSNBC will of course bring you live coverage and instant analysis from the
smartest minds in the business backed by the power of NBC News 24/7 and I mean that...
Dig some backgrounders...
"White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Bush would have an opening statement about
successes in the war against terrorism and the importance of disarming Iraqi President
Saddam Hussein." (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=2337611
Asked if the prime-time appearance is part of a public relations buildup to war,
Fleischer said, "In the event that the president decides to use force, the president
always thinks it's important to communicate but the president has not made any
decisions about that matter." (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A50565-2003Mar6.html
At 9 pm et, Hardball will cut the hot bites and slice and dice 'em for the full hour,
election night style...The war train is moving fast and developments are arising by
the hour...I encourage you also to tune early tonight at 7 pm et for Lester's
"Countdown: Iraq" which provides a comprehensive look at all the news concerning the
Iraq situation...He'll do some "pre-funking" on the 8 pm presser as well....
Our lineup at this hour includes: Fmr. Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger, NY Dem
Charlie Rangel, Howard, Norah and Buster Glosson, the man who directed the '91 air
campaign...Buster apparently is bustin' a gut over the newest military strategy in
Iraq, calling it "criminal."
Plus, rumors are flying around town that Osama is within days of being caught appear,
at least at this time, to be unfounded...We'll keep you up to date on that scoop as
well...Here's what the AP has...
Osama bin Laden is alive, in good health and living in the border region between
Pakistan and Afghanistan, the suspected No. 3 al-Qaida leader told his interrogators
after being captured last weekend, a Pakistani intelligence official said Thursday.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030306/ap_on_re_as/pakistan_bin_laden_5
Must watch TV tonight folks...Oh by the way, you've heard the hype surrounding
Savage...Tune in and judge for yourself (5 pm et on Saturday)...My grandma will be
watching and so should you...Here's his new site
http://www.msnbc.com/news/savagenation_front.asp
Dominic Bellone wrote, compiled and edited The Hardball Briefing from deep inside the
Beltway...
Mortman's Sine Qua Non reading: Politics of fighting a two-front war...Top al-Qaida
arrest in Pakistan challenges Democratic rhetoric on Iraq, terrorism
http://www.msnbc.com/news/880242.asp?0dm=N15TO
Uh oh...The "as-yet-unnamed" Democratic presidential nominee has a slight edge over
President Bush, according to the latest national Quinnipiac poll (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030306/ap_to_po/presidential_poll_1
A retired American general who directed the 1991 Gulf War air campaign on Tuesday
denounced the U.S. military strategy for a possible new war with Iraq as "criminal,"
saying it would risk more American and allied lives than necessary. (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20030226/ts_nm/iraq_usa_military_dc_2
Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle said on Thursday an invasion of Iraq now would be
premature and that the Bush administration has failed diplomatically to build
international support for war to oust Saddam Hussein (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=politicsNews&storyID=2338648
Fun Clinton News...
Clinton and Dole Get CBS Gig...They'll spar weekly on "60 Minutes" in a revived
"Point/Counterpoint." (de Moraes)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48695-2003Mar5.html
Dinner in 25 Minutes...Weekday cheese and pasta supper
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A39349-2003Mar4.html
In a two-day diplomatic blitz, Secretary of State Colin Powell will try to overcome
U.N. resistance to using force to disarm Iraq - warning that holding back would send a
"terrible message" to tyrants everywhere (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=540&ncid=703&e=1&u=/ap/20030306/ap_on_re_mi_ea/us_iraq
U.S. faces more opposition on Iraq...In the face of strong opposition to a U.S. led
war on Iraq, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell on Wednesday urged its toughest
critics not to let Saddam divide the international community.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/842500.asp
China on Thursday backed a statement by France, Russia and Germany vowing to block a
U.N. resolution authorizing war on Iraq, but the United States said Baghdad had just
days left to accept peaceful disarmament. (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=QJN0ILPHGMBKYCRBAE0CFFA?type=topNews&storyID=2335989
Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher said on Thursday Jordan would not
participate in any U.S.-led war against Iraq but it would not let differences on Iraq
jeopardize relations with key ally Washington. (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=2336787
Post Analysis: Isolated U.S. in a Tough Position...The Bush administration this week
has become increasingly isolated in the world over its determination to topple the
Iraqi government, leaving it in a diplomatically difficult position in advance of a
critical Security Council meeting Friday.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A48303-2003Mar5.html?referrer=email
U.S. triples 'no fly' sorties over Iraq...U.S. forces plan to drop 10 times the bombs
in the opening of the air campaign in Iraq than in 1991, U.S. officials said
Wednesday. It would demonstrate the strategy officials call "shock and awe."
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/870749.asp
The Pentagon has provided President Bush with options for an attack against Iraq that
could begin within days and without using Turkey as a staging area for American troops
in the north, military officials said today. (The New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/06/international/middleeast/06MILI.html?ex=1047531600&en=bee13570b00208be&ei=5006&partner=ALTAVISTA1
Sammon: President Bush yesterday rejected the anti-war pleas of a papal envoy during
an Ash Wednesday meeting in the Oval Office, arguing that forgoing war would be
immoral. http://washingtontimes.com/national/20030306-21340268.htm
Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle says the Bush administration continues to "sit back
and watch" as the crisis in North Korea steadily worsens. (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=516&ncid=703&e=3&u=/ap/20030306/ap_on_re_as/us_north_korea
Israelis kill 11 in Palestinian camp...A missile fired from an Israeli helicopter
killed at least 11 Palestinians and wounded 100 more Thursday at the Jabalya refugee
camp in Gaza, according to witnesses and hospital officials.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/801833.asp
The recent arrest of a top al-Qaida operative has confirmed for U.S. law enforcement
the identities of about a dozen suspected terrorists in this country, a government
official said Thursday. (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=512&e=2&u=/ap/20030306/ap_on_go_co/terror_chief_warning
DeLay puts the hammer down: Congress could remove federal courts' jurisdiction to rule
on the Pledge of Allegiance if the Supreme Court doesn't overturn an appeals court
decision that bars children from reciting the Pledge in school, House Majority Leader
Tom DeLay said yesterday. (The Washington Times)
http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030306-701839.htm
Senate Republicans failed Thursday to break a Democratic blockade on Miguel Estrada's
nomination for a federal appeals court judgeship, dealing President Bush his first
major defeat since the GOP won control of Congress last November. (AP)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=512&ncid=703&e=2&u=/ap/20030306/ap_on_go_co/senate_estrada
Miguel A. Estrada, whose nomination to a federal judgeship remains tied up in the
Senate, is hailed by supporters as "an American success story" and opposed by
activists who say they don't know his views but suspect the worst. (The Washington
Times) http://www.washtimes.com/national/20030306-436915.htm
US Senator John F. Kerry's insistence that he has been ''clear as a bell'' in never
having claimed Irish ancestry is undercut by a statement introduced the day after St.
Patrick's Day 17 years ago in which he identified himself as Irish-American. (The
Boston Globe)
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/065/metro/1986_statement_counters_Kerry_s_stand_on_heritage+.shtml
The presidential candidacy of Al Sharpton brings diversity to the growing Democratic
field, but the black activist's record of controversy and legal trouble also poses a
political challenge for the party. (AP)
http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/news/politics/5318723.htm
Sweet: Left-wingers set to make radio waves
http://www.suntimes.com/output/sweet/cst-edt-sweet061.html
Inside Politics: During a live broadcast this week from the Pentagon, Defense
Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld was asked on WMAL-AM 630's "The Chris Core Show" whether
he, like some Washington residents, has duct tape, plastic sheeting and a three-day
supply of water should terrorists raise their ugly heads.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/inbeltway.htm
With his Beacon Hill hopes dashed, former US labor secretary and onetime gubernatorial
candidate Robert Reich turned to modeling yesterday. In the nude. (The Boston Globe)
http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/065/living/Reich_is_a_calendar_guy_the_Farrellys_help_warm_up_Rockport+.shtml
Opinion/Editorial
Pat's must read: Prophecy is difficult, especially with respect to the future, said
Mark Twain. And after the president's speech to the annual dinner here of the American
Enterprise Institute - Politburo of the War Party - the question remains unanswered:
What course does the United States intend to pursue, after U.S. tanks have rolled into
Baghdad? http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=31321
Wartime journalism
Try as they might, journalists will never be objective once they're on the
battlefield. By Jack Shafer.
http://www.msnbc.com/modules/exports/ct_infobeat.asp?/news/880536.asp
Playing Texas poker, Bush bets all on Iraq
http://www.suntimes.com/output/novak/cst-edt-novak061.html
John Fund's Political Diary...A black Republican is the early favorite for a North
Carolina House seat. http://www.opinionjournal.com/diary/?id=110003153
Ilana: Immolation by immigration http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=31364
Olberman's KO: The best historical analogy for the arrest of the al Qaeda operations
chief, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, is probably that day in Milan when they found the
runaway ex-dictator Benito Mussolini and hung him up by his feet from a lamppost. So,
just so we're clear, I'm not taking this lightly. But, frankly, what's the deal with
this picture? http://www.msnbc.com/news/876564.asp
Landfield: Playing Politics With Children's Safety: The Ski Helmet Story
http://www.practicalpolitics.net/landfield/3_6_03.html
The Wall Street Journal: The Estrada Precedent...Democrats take judicial confirmation
battles to a new low. http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110003161
Mallard http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/fun/mallard.asp
Doonesbury http://www.ucomics.com/doonesbury/
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